United States Naval Academy Forrestal Lecture Series

LT Jason Redman, USN Founder and CEO SOF Spoken

7:30 p.m. September 2, 2015 Alumni Hall LT Jason Redman, USN Founder and CEO SOF Spoken

Lieutenant Jason Redman joined the Navy on September 11, 1992 and spent eight years as an enlisted SEAL. He completed three deployments throughout Central and South America and spent two years as a training instructor before being selected for the Seaman to Admiral Commissioning program in 2000. He attended Old Dominion University, graduating Summa Cum Laude in May 2004 and completing his time with the Hampton Roads Naval ROTC as Student Battalion Commanding Officer before he was commissioned as a Naval SEAL Officer. Over the next four years, Lieutenant Redman completed combat deployments in both Afghanistan and Iraq. On September 13, 2007, outside of Fallujah, Iraq, Lieutenant Redman’s Assault Team came under heavy machine gun and small arms fire and he was severely wounded in the ensuing firefight. While recovering at Bethesda Naval Medical Center, Redman authored and hung a bright orange sign on his door, which became a statement and symbol for wounded warriors everywhere. Lieutenant Redman is the recipient of the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons and the U.S. Army Ranger tab along with numerous other personal and unit awards. Redman retired from the Navy in 2013 and founded the Combat Wounded Coalition/Wounded Wear, a Non-Profit organization which supports combat wounded warriors and families of the fallen. He currently acts as the executive director of the organization and is also the founder and CEO of SOF Spoken, a speaking company which provides inspirational presentations on leadership, teamwork, and overcoming adversity for businesses, first responders, sports teams, and government organizations. In November of 2013, Redman published “The Trident: The Forging and Reforging of a Navy SEAL Leader.” His book details lessons learned in leadership and overcoming adversity throughout his SEAL career while also discussing his combat deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as his personal journey with his wife Erica and their three children. The Trident was selected in 2014 as part of the Chief of Naval Operation’s professional reading program. FORRESTAL LECTURE SERIES The Forrestal Lecture Series was established at the Naval Academy in May 1970 in honor of the late James V. Forrestal who, as one of the foremost proponents of seapower of our era, was instrumental in the development of the modern Navy. Secretary Forrestal served in the Navy's flight program in World War I, leaving service as a lieutenant junior grade. He reentered government service in 1940 as an administrative assistant to President Roosevelt. Later that year, he was named Under Secretary of the Navy. Long an advocate of naval supremacy, he was the man responsible for the remarkable logistical building of the Navy in the early war years. He became Secretary of the Navy in 1944, following the death of Frank Knox. Secretary Forrestal took unprecedented strides towards the establishment of racial equality in the Navy. He also served as the chief architect of the vastly complicated merger of the War and Navy Departments into the National Military Establishment (later the Department of Defense). He was named the first Secretary of Defense by President Truman in 1947. The awesome burden of reorganization quickly took its toll, and Secretary Forrestal resigned for health reasons in 1948. He died one year later. The purpose of this lecture series is to enhance the education, awareness and appreciation of the members of the Brigade of Midshipmen in the social, political and cultural dimensions of the nation and the world. Featured are leading representatives from various walks of life - government, the arts, humor, literature, education, sports, politics, science and other major fields on the national and international scene.    This evening’s Forrestal Lecture is generously sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Robert Finnigan (Class of ’49) of Los Altos, California, and the Class of 1946 through charitable funds established at the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation. The Brigade of Midshipmen acknowledges this support with deep appreciation.